Thronateeska Heritage Center to offer free summer admission to military personnel, families
Blue Star Museum program runs May 18-Sept. 2
File Photo
From Staff Reports
ALBANY — Thronateeska Heritage Center is joining museums nationwide in participating in the 10th summer of Blue Star Museums, a program that provides free admission to public attractions to the nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families during the summer season.
Thronateeska is one three Albany attractions taking part in the program this year, with the Albany Civil Rights Institute and Flint RiverQuarium also participating.
The program begins May 18, on Armed Forces Day, and ends on Labor Day, Sept. 2. Blue Star Museums is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense and more than 2,000 museums nationwide.
“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to celebrate the 10th summer of collaborating with Blue Star Families, Department of Defense, and especially the more than 2,000 museums across our nation that make this program possible,” Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, said. “Organizations such as Thronateeska Heritage Center are providing wonderful opportunities for military families to share a memorable experience together this summer.”
This year’s participating organizations include fine arts, science, history and children’s museums, as well as zoos, aquariums and gardens.
“We’ve seen the tremendous impact the Blue Star Museums program brings to our military families, and we’re thrilled to be celebrating a decade of support,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, chief executive officer of Blue Star Families. “Not only are museums fun to explore, but they are also great for making memories and strengthening military families as a whole.”
The free admission program is available to those serving in the United States military — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps — and up to five family members.
“The Defense Department congratulates Blue Star Families and the National Endowment for the Arts on reaching an incredible milestone: 10 years of service to the military community though Blue Star Museums,” A.T. Johnston, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Military Community and Family Policy, said. “We offer our sincere gratitude to the more than 2,000 museums across the country who open their doors through this wonderful program.
“Your patriotism and generosity have enriched the lives and experiences of our military families.”
Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card, DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID) or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.
Thronateeska, a not-for-profit organization, is located at 100 W. Roosevelt Ave. The campus includes a history museum, science museum, rail car display, a 40-foot full-dome HD planetarium, Georgia Museum of Surveying and Mapping and South Georgia Archives.
Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is the independent federal agency whose funding and support gives Americans the opportunity to participate in the arts, exercise their imaginations and develop their creative capacities. Through partnerships with state arts agencies, local leaders, other federal agencies and the philanthropic sector, the Arts Endowment supports arts learning, affirms and celebrates America’s rich and diverse cultural heritage, and extends its work to promote equal access to the arts in every community.
Blue Star Families builds communities supporting military families by connecting research and data to programs and solutions, including career development tools, community events for families and caregiver support. Since its inception in 2009, Blue Star Families has engaged tens of thousands of volunteers and serves more than 1.5 million military family members.
Military can find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.
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